The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in addition to two previously awarded Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Coast Guard Award) to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 12 March 1968 as Aircraft Commander of a Coast Guard HH-52A helicopter engaged in the evacuation of 11 crewman from the floating oil rig JULIE ANN, Dixilyn No. 8, located 110 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite severe weather conditions with 40-know winds, 20-foot seas and blowing spray, which constantly threatened to extinguish the aircraft’s engine, Captain Firse skillfully maneuvered the helicopter and hovered close aboard the sinking rig with his rotor blades less than 10 feet from the superstructure. Although occasional monstrous swells racked the rig even closer to the hovering helicopter, Captain First persevered and with utmost precision successfully hoisted seven survivors, off-loaded them on a nearby stationary oil rig platform and returned to the pounding rig to hoist four more survivors under the same arduous conditions. Captain First remained on scene until his critical fuel state forced him to relinquish his post and proceed to a fueling site. Captain Firse displayed expert airmanship and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission. His aeronautical skill, courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Air Force Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
June 21, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1375 (May 8, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an HH-3E Rescue Crew Commander in Southeast Asia on 21 June 1967. On that date, Captain Firse penetrated an extremely hostile environment to recover a downed Air Force Pilot. Initially driven off by surface-to-air missiles, he returned to the scene where, pinpointing the survivor in a deep “V” shaped ravine, he hovered his aircraft into the extremely confined airspace where a successful recovery could be made. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain First reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
March 10, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1670 (October 11, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Rescue Crew Commander of an unarmed HH-3E Rescue Helicopter in Southeast Asia on 10 March 1967. On that date, Captain Firse led his crew in the successful recovery of two downed Air Force Pilots. Because of rapidly varying wind currents and clear air turbulence, hovering the Rescue Helicopter over the steep jungle covered hills was extremely hazardous and difficult. With unwavering determination, perseverance, and skill, Captain First positioned his helicopter directly over the survivors until they were hoisted aboard. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain First reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
July 10, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-1693 (October 12, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an HH-3E Helicopter Rescue Crew Commander in Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia, on 10 July 1967. On that date, Captain Firse flew a rescue mission to recover a friendly pilot down in the midst of hostile territory. Although he was forced to retire from the rescue area once by intense hostile ground fire, Captain First hovered the Jolly Green and against a hail of hostile small arms fire held it until the survivor got board the hoist. In spite of the hostile fire, Captain Firse succeeded in rescuing the downed pilot. Only when he was safely aboard did he proceed out of the area. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain First has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
December 6, 1966
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1666 (October 10, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an HH-3E Rescue Crew Commander near Dien Bien Phu, North Vietnam on 6 December 1966. On that date, Captain Firse voluntarily proceeded unescorted to a hostile rescue area and, with unwavering calmness and courage, successfully recovered two downed airmen despite heavy automatic weapons fire directed at his helicopter. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain First reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Air Force Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
June 11, 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain John Albert Firse (AFSN: FV-3081754), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an HH-3E Helicopter Rescue Crew Commander in Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 11 June 1967. On that date, Captain Firse flew deep into hostile territory to rescue two downed American pilots. After rescuing one survivor from the dense jungle, he hovered over the second, with intense and accurate ground fire tearing into his unarmed aircraft and causing extensive damage. Despite continuing fire, Captain Firse persevered in the recovery effort until the second survivor was safely aboard. Although three of his tires were blown and the hull was extensively damaged from hostile fire, Captain Firse skillfully recovered at a forward operating base. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Captain Firse reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.